Hairpin



y 1932- J. D. CAMPBELL 1,861,109

HATRPIN Filed Oct. 13, 1931 FIL'Ll. FIELE- 1 15.3.

FIB.E.

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JOHN DLAMPBELL f -5 duiolmq,

Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

'amrm Application filed October is, 1981. Serial No. seam.

This invention relates to improvements in hair pins, and more particularly to that type designed for clamping or gripping portions of hair to resist accidental dislodgment of the pin.

Among the objects inview are the ease and eflicacy of application and retention and ease of removal. V

In greater detail a further object is the provision of means for enabling opening of spring-pressed contacting prongs of a hair pin by stress applied at the end remote from the place or places of contact.

With these and other objects in view as will in part hereinafter become apparent and in part be stated, the invention includes a pair of prongs stressed to have their free end portions resiliently contact, and operating-means for opening or moving the prongs apart.

The invention also in further detail includes spaced grip portions at the ends of the prongs remote from the free ends thereof, which grip portions are adapted to be pressed toward each other against spring pressure for opening the prongs.

.The invention still further comprises certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as subsequently specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is an edge view of ahair pin embodying the features of the present invention, the prongs being in contact.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same with the parts in the position having the prongs opened.

Figure 3 is an edge view of the parts as seen in Figure 1, that is, a view taken from a plane at ri ht angles to the plane of observation of igure 1.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are views respectively similar to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of a diflerent embodiment of the invention.

It is, of course, well known that certain types of hair pins are in use and on the market which are made up of an elongated loop producing tw'o converging prongs sprlng-stressed toward each other, and the user customarily opens the prongs by inserting a part of the finger in the closed end of the loops and prying the prongs apart. Holdin them in this position, the pin is inserte into place in the hair. The difiiculty of this operation makes it necessary to substantially limit the extent of spring stress of the prongs toward each other, as too strong a, stress would render the opening of the prongs too difficult for ready and acceptable operation. On the other hand, if the stress is too light, the pin will not stay in place. Among other objects of my invention is the formation of a pin and its operation in such fashion that the prongs may be given practically unlimited stress toward each other, limited only by the physical capacity of spring steel or other spring material of V which the pin is constructed, so that maximum clamping action is afforded and maximum frictional grip is provided and obviates likelihood or danger of loss or unintentional dislocation while at the same time in no way interfering with or rendering diflicult application and removal.

It should be understood that the present improved pin may be made of any appropriate material, but is preferably of metal stamped to the configuration employed, so that the pin can be produced by automatic machinery.

The embodiment seen in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawin s is made up of a single continu ous piece 0 metal, mostly fiat strip, and preferably having one portion or part stamped to rod-like contour, but as will become appar' ent the cross sectional form of the strip or rod may be varied quite substantially while within the spirit and scope of the invention, and, in fact, varied to any extent not inconsistent with the functional capacity of the apparatus and its intended use. The strip, bar or rod of which the pin is made is of resilient material bent intermediate its ends preferably approximateiy midway of the lengthto provide a V-shaped spring hinge 1, and again bent back upon itself along the sides of the V-shaped portion to provide the prongs of the pin made up of straight portions 2, 2, and crimped or otherwise shaped prongs 3, 3. Hinge 1 is a plain bend or flat fold, that is, it

is not formed witha coil. The free end of one of the prongs is preferably provided with a transversely curved or somewhat spoonshaped terminus 4, adapted to receive the straight terminus of the other prong 3. The crimping of the prongs 3 is preferably such that one prong nests or fits snugly in the other, as seen in Figure 1, when the pin is not applied to the hair or otherwise in operation.

The operation is extremely simple and obvious and consists of pressing the portions 2, 2, toward each other for closing or partly closing the V 1 from the position seen in Figure 1 to the position seen in Figure 2. This movement of the outer or what may be termed the handle end or closed end of the pin causes the prongs to swing or hinge outward to the open position seen in Figure 2. so that the pin may be readily inserted at the desired location in the hair of the user with a portion of the hair between the prongs. The handle portion or closed end of the pin is then released and the prongs move to a position firmly clamping the hair between them as the V 1 opens toward its normal position. The V 1 cannot open fully in view of the intervening hair but the spring tension of the V 1 is such as to constantly stress the prongs toward each other and thereby exert a firm, clamping action on the interposed hair, whereby likelihood of loosening or becoming lost is obviated.

The form of pin shown in Figures 4 to 6 involves the same general mode and principle of operation. the pin being made up ofasingle piece or strip of metal formed into the prongs 6. 6, with the closed end provided with a spring hinge 7 therebetween tensioned to stress the free ends of the prongs 6 toward each other. The material making up one prong extends into a loop 8 and is then bent down and twisted across to produce the V 7, and back to produce the second prong by being twisted upon itself into a similar loop 8. The loops 8 are held spaced apartnormallyby the intervening spring hinge 7, and it should be understood that the said spring hinge 7 may be formed in any of numerous ways, but must be tensioned to stress the prongs 6 in the .direction for pulling or forcing the free ends of the prongs toward each other and into contact with each other when free to contact, as seen in Figure 4. One of the prongs is preferably provided with the spoon or trough-shaped terminus 9, proportioned to receive the straight terminus 10 of the other prong.

The operation of the pin seen in Figures 4, 5, and 6 is practically identically the same as that above described. The parts being in the position seen in Figure 4. the operator places a thumb against one of the loops 8 and a cooperating finger against the other loop 8 and presses the loops toward each other. This causes a spring-hinging operation, and

the free ends of the rongs 6 move apart to the position seen in i re 5. The hair pin is then inserted into p ace, and the loops 8 are released. Of course, in releasing the operating handles of either form of the pin, whether loops 8 or merely flat portions, as in Figure 1, care will be exercised to cause the release to be accomplished sufiiciently slowly for enabling the hair pin to set itself as desired in the hair without any jerking or sudden action or movement liable to occasion a tug or pull on the hair that might be unpleasant. The pin is withdrawn from the hair by first springing the prongs apart, and then removing the pin.

What is claimed is '1. A hair pin comprising a pair of cooperating prongs connected at one end to move laterally apart substantially at the place of connection, means exerting a cushioning stress tending to move the prongs toward each other, and means at the connected end of the prongs for moving the prongs apart against the cushioning stress, one of the prongs being formed with a spoon-shaped terminus located to receive the terminus of the other prong.

2. A hair pin comprising a pair of cooperating prongs connected at one end to move laterally apart substantially at the place of connection, means exerting a cushioning stress tending to move the prongs toward each other, and means at the connected end of the prongs for moving the prongs apart against the cushioning stress, the prongs be ing crimped with cooperating crimping adapted to be nested together when the prongs are in contact.

3. A hair pin comprising a length of re silient material bent to provide prongs, and an intermediate fold providing a hinge between the prongs and stressing the prongs toward each other, the parts of the material at the fold being proportioned and located 'to receive gripping pressure for overcoming the spring stress and moving the prongs apart, and the prongs being spaced apart at the fold and tapering toward each other to substantially meeting at their free ends.

4. A hair pin comprising a length of resilient material bent to provide prongs, and an intermediate non-coiled fold providing a hinge between the prongs and stressing the prongs toward each other, the parts of the material at the fold being proportioned and located to receive gripping pressure for overcoming the spring stress and moving the prongs apart, the material being a fiat strip throughout one prong and throughout the hinge fold and throughout the grip receiving portions and being a rod substantially throughout the other prong.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN D. CAMPBELL. 

